The sound that occurs when the air vibrates the soft tissues around it while passing through the upper respiratory tract, which is narrowed during sleep, is called snoring. Snoring, which reaches up to 70-75 decibels and sometimes even 100 decibels, is more common in young men than in young women. This difference between two genders decreases as of 50s.
There is no valid and completely effective treatment for snoring. The type of treatment is mostly determined by the cause of snoring. For example, if the cause is allergic rhinitis, interventions to clear the nostrils or use of nasal patches may work. Methods such as reducing the intake of alcohol and sedatives and sleeping on the side can reduce snoring.
Treatments for chronic snoring
Chronic snoring, other than those that occur periodically due to any reason, may require more serious treatment. In particular, it is recommended not to resort to self-treatment at home. What needs to be done is to see an ear-nose-throat doctor or a sleep specialist. These specialists may recommend an apparatus to be placed on the teeth at night. This apparatus allowing the release of the pharynx greatly stops snoring. Another reason for chronic snoring is polyps in the nose. In this case, polyps need to be removed. If chronic snoring is caused by tonsils, flesh of nose, shape of nose or palate, surgical method can be applied.
Sleep Apnea Syndrome Threatens Health
Snoring can be much more serious than a simple noise pollution. Today's research shows that the health of chronically snoring people might be in danger. Because during snoring, there is a sleep-apnea syndrome which causes the pause of breathing for some moments. The people who stop breathing in their sleep, find their mouths open for 10 to 30 seconds and start breathing loudly again. These people who do not get enough oxygen feel tired sometimes accompanied by headache fatigue when they wake up in the morning. Symptoms of sleep apnea include frequent visits to the toilet, palpitations, and memory problems at night. For a definite diagnosis, it is necessary to go to a sleep clinic and record the breathing during sleep. In cases of severe sleep apnea syndrome, drowsiness, weight gain and high blood pressure can be observed during the day. When this situation continues, it can damage the heart and brain.
Surgical methods used in the treatment of snoring
Snoring surgery methods include snore-only methods or surgical methods for sleep-apnea that accompany snoring. First of all, if there are problems such as cartilage bone curvature (deviation) or obstructing the flesh of the nose, the nose should be relieved with surgical methods. The effect of nose surgery on snoring is actually limited. The most commonly used snoring surgery methods are to shorten and harden the soft palate in accordance with the anatomical problems of the patient or to remove the tonsil and to shorten the small tongue if necessary. In the case of sleep-apnea, we may add tongue root surgery to this list. In the case of a paediatric patient, the most commonly used method is the reduction or removal of the tonsils after removal of the nasal flesh.
The impact of lifestyle
It is not possible to rely on just surgical methods when the snoring is the case. Active participation of the patient is also important in solving this problem. Think of an overweight, a cigarette-addicted patient who has cartilage bone curvature-nose flesh swelling in his nose. The nose operation of the person accompanied by losing weight and quitting smoking, and not eating late hours can give great results. Even if we offer an excellent soft palate surgery to the same patient, it is very difficult to succeed in the long term unless they change the lifestyle. If there are no associated problems related to bone structures in soft palate and tonsil surgeries (such as the jaw being left behind), the success of soft palate surgeries to be applied will be greater if the patient has a longer and softer palate and small tongue.
If snoring is accompanied by apnea…
If snoring is accompanied by apnea, a sleep test should be performed. If severe apnea is the case as a result of the test in question, classical surgical methods may be insufficient to solve the problem. Pressure mask therapy is applied to these patients during their sleep. In our country, the majority of patients do not accept the method of surgical advancement of the lower and upper jaw. There are also many methods for snoring and apnea, including robotic surgery. However, it is not possible to say that the five-year results of any method for soft tissues are “miraculous”…
Choice of treatment for different types of snoring
In the case of snoring without apnea, nasal congestion should be applied first. The patient should be given the opportunity to attempt to change the way of life to reduce snoring. If necessary and anticipated results are not obtained, anterior pharyngoplasty (hardening and shortening of the soft palate) can be applied with or without the tonsil. In the paediatric patient group, if the tonsil is enlarged, instead of removing the whole tonsil, it is appropriate to reduce it and remove the nasal flesh.
